Panthers rebound with easy dual win

The Park Rapids girls swimming and diving team rebounded from its first loss of the season with an impressive victory Thursday night.

Todd Fritze's team went 1-2 in the first six events en route to a 90-58 Mid-State Conference win over Staples-Motley at the Area High School pool.

Emily Creager, Allycia Zinke, Lauren Rossman and Katherine Erickson opened the meet by winning the 200-yard medley relay in 2:07.97 while Leah Meinert, Heather Kniss, Hannah Williams and Melissa Haas followed in 2:14.43.

Mandy Schirmers (2:14.13) and Rossman (2:18.23) led the way in the 200 freestyle before Meinert (2:33.73) and Haas (2:41.52) went 1-2 in the 200 individual medley.

Erickson (27.28) and Zinke (28.17) led the field in the 50 freestyle, Jessica Andersen (155.45 points) and Ellen Hoffman (143.30) went 1-2 in diving, and Schirmers (1:11.83) and Williams (1:16.81) went 1-2 in the 100 butterfly as the Panthers built a 71-14 cushion.

Haas' runner-up 1:01.69 in the 100 freestyle and a 1-2 showing by Zinke (6:11.50) and Rossman (6:19.49) in the 500 freestyle capped off the scoring for the Panthers, who led 90-26 before swimming exhibition in the final four events.

Erickson, Andersen, Creager and Zinke clocked a 1:51.44 in the 200 freestyle relay; Creager clocked a 1:10.70 in the 100 backstroke; Meinert clocked a 1:21.08 in the 100 breaststroke; and Kniss, Seri Erickson, Andersen and Haas teamed up for a 4:22.55 in the 400 freestyle relay to lead the Panthers.

The Panthers, who were coming off a 99-87 loss to Bemidji, improved to 6-1 in dual meets.